Auction 92 Part 1 Rare and Important Items

Torah Commentary by the Abarbanel – First Edition – Venice, 1579 – With 17th Century Eyeglasses

Opening: $2,500
Estimate: $3,000 - $3,500
Sold for: $4,000
Including buyer's premium

Torah commentary by Don Yitzchak Abarbanel. Venice: Asher Parenzo for Zuan Bragadin [in the press of Giovanni di Gara], 1579. First edition.
R. Yitzchak Abarbanel's work on Neviim was printed in Italy several years after his passing (Pesaro, 1511, 1520), while his work on the Torah was only first printed in the present edition, some fifty years later.
The edition was proofread by R. Shmuel Archivolti, as stated on the title page.
Signature on the title page: "Y.B.Tz. Kohen". Censor's signature on final leaf.


423, [2] leaves. 30.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains, including dark dampstains. Wear to some leaves. Marginal worming to several leaves. Minor marginal tears to title page and several other leaves. Loose gatherings. Early leather binding; front board and spine detached, with many tears, worming and blemishes.


Enclosed: early pair of eyeglasses (ca. 17th century), found inside the book. Leather frame. Lacking one lens.

Early Printed books
Early Printed books